“Anxo, stop this right now! She’ll be out there with no protection and a kid, you asshole!” Seiji roars, but his anger is dismissed as easily as my plea.
Grace steps forward, standing head-to-head with Anxo despite their height difference. “You can’t kick her out of her own kingdom. She’s the only heir to Death’s throne.”
“Horseman Blackburn will return soon. And we were doing just fine beforeshecame along and destroyed our peace,” the former Warriorhead of Conquer remarks. It hurts to see so many heads nod in agreement.
This isn’t about the dangers that follow me, or the weight my mate carries to keep me from falling apart. Anxowantsme to leave.
“What has gotten into you? This is heartless, Anxo.” Grace is furious. I’ve never seen her like this.
But the truth is, she shouldn’t want me to stay. What happened yesterday will keep happening if I don’t leave. Nothing Anxo said is a lie. Every attack this kingdom has faced in the past six months—hell, in the last two decades—has been my fault.
“You take it back, or I swear to Fates—” Seiji lunges at Anxo before anyone can stop him.
“Stop it, Seiji!” My voice cuts through the chaos. “Horseman Alarie is right. This isn’t your fight… it never was.”
I look into Anxo’s eyes. The emerald eyes that once wrapped me in love and warmth are drowning in a bottomless pit of emptiness. The longer I search for my mate in them, the deeper they drag me under.
I erase every emotion from my face because I don’t have time to fall apart. I have a responsibility to keep it together for August and find us a safe place to live. Somewhere far from here.
Papa isn’t here. My mate doesn’t want me. Half the people I’ve called family are looking at me like a stranger. I don’t have a reason to stay here, not when my presence is causing them such despair.
I turn to August and take his hand in mine. I give him the closest thing to a smile I can manage. My baby squeezes my hand tightly, his smile making the pain bearable.
It will be fine. We’ll be fine.
I clear my throat and address the room, my voice stripped of every emotion. “We are grateful for your shelter and protection. I apologize for the pain I’ve inflicted. You won’t have to worry about seeing us again.”
My heart cracks every word, but my voice stays firm and steady.
The throbbing in my head smears the edges of the room, the past six months feeling like a fever dream that finally ended.
“Wise decision.” Anxo nods. “Maybe after you leave, we’ll finally have some peace around here. And don’t even think about lurking near the portals, my warriors have a kill on sight for outsiders now.”
And with that, the last thread of hope snaps.
I won’t beg him to let me stay. I won’t beg for the love he’s clearly forgotten.
Soft murmurs and muffled sneers ripple through the room. When I look around, my heart sinks to my feet. My mate isn’t just throwing me out like trash; he’s also making me a spectacle, entertainment for his people.
And here I thought he loved me.
My cheeks burn when Conquer’s ex-Warriorhead claims Anxo is “showing me mercy” by letting me walk away after “all the trouble I’ve caused”.
I swallow past the tightness in my throat as Anxo stands there, lips pressed thin while his warriors and elders tear into me.
He’s acting like I’m his biggest inconvenience, not his mate. Someone he swore to love and protect.His sweetheart.
I wipe the corner of my eye quickly. The sleeve ofhishoodie brushes my cheek, and I curse myself for wearing it today. I want nothing more than to rip it off, but that will have to wait until I’m out of this place for good.
I turn to leave, but Seiji catches me, wrapping his arms around me from behind. I keep my back to him, refusing to let the tears fall and make myself an even bigger mockery in front of these people.
“I don’t care if he’s Conquer,” Seiji murmurs into my hair, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ll beat the shit out of him if he doesn’t come to his senses.”
I take a deep breath, steadying myself before I turn in his arms.
“I need to leave, Seiji,” I whisper so only he and Grace can hear me. “The coven is after me… after us.” My gaze flicks to August, waiting by the door, small and quiet. “He’s right. Everything is my fault—”
“It’s not your fault,” Seiji cuts me off. “Something’s wrong with Anxo. I don’t know why he’s suddenly acting like a complete jackass.”
